In an effort to help empower disadvantaged women get job interviews, Lone Star College-CyFair is holding a campus and community-wide professional attire suit drive March 5 through March 9 benefiting Dress For Success® Houston (DFSH.)

This year’s campaign is titled S.O.S. (Send One Suit) Week as the college’s Counseling, Career and Disability Services Department teams up again with this non-profit organization, which provides interview-appropriate suits and career development to aid low-income women entering the workforce.

“Dress For Success® Houston understands that if a woman doesn’t have a job, she can’t afford a suit.  But, without a suit, she can’t get a job,” said Susan Siceluff, coordinator for employment development. “By donating professional attire to our suit drive, you will be helping someone less fortunate get on the road to success, including some of our students.”   

Interview-appropriate women’s suits (skirt or pant), blouses, gently-used handbags, gently-used shoes, scarves and new pantyhose will be accepted as well as check donations made payable to Dress For Success® Houston. Clothing donations should be dry-cleaned and on hangers. Monetary donations are welcome as only 15% of annual donations are in sizes 14 to 34, which is the size range of 60% of DSFH’s clients. A $75 donation fully funds one suit and accessories.

Sign-in forms will be available for donations, all of which are tax-deductible. Suits and check donations should be dropped off at the front desk of Counseling, Career and Disability Services Department in the Center for Academic and Student Affairs (CASA 109).

While the Suit Drive is just one week, the college’s career counseling services are available year-round, Siceluff said. LSC-CyFair offers face-to-face career counseling appointments, hosts monthly campus and annual community job fairs and provides other employment services and resources.

“From exploring, planning or changing a career path to writing resumes and practicing for interviews, our career services are free to students and the community,” said Siceluff. “Through our DFSH partnership, we also have a referral program to further assist job seekers on campus and in the community.”

For information on Dress For Success® Houston go to www.dressforsuccess.org/houston. For information on LSC-CyFair’s referral program or career counseling, contact Siceluff at 281.290.3260.